How to Become an HVAC Technician? | The Best Pathway !

The construction sector is obviously a sector that never dies. The global population is on the rise and more structures and buildings are essential for the future world. For any building or structure, it is necessary to install a proper system for heating, ventilating, and air conditioning of the place. That is our main focus in this article. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning. And we are providing you with the best guide to become an HVAC technician.

Is becoming an HVAC tech worth it?

The straightforward answer is yes. It is worth becoming an HVAC technician. HVAC is basically about heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Day by day, people seek new luxuries and amenities. People will be expecting much more sophisticated climate-control systems for sure. Fixing standard HVAC systems is part of that. When people need to fix such systems, they need the service of HVAC technicians. So, we can assume that this will be in demand in the future.

The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the employment of HVAC technicians is likely to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. It is nearly as fast as the growth average for all occupations. And it is mainly for commercial and residential building construction, that HVAC technicians will have a big demand in the future.

Further, the world is gradually moving toward a future enriched with sustainable energy resources. The world is currently running out of non-renewable energies. Hence, we obviously do need to promote energy efficiency. Consequently, upgrading the existing HVAC systems to much more efficient ones has become a major need. And that is obviously the job of an HVAC technician.

But to be frank, the demand is for quality HVAC technicians. So, it is necessary to follow the most productive pathway to be an HVAC technician. Otherwise, you might not be having sufficient qualifications to grow in the profession. And we are ready to tell you all about it.

Is it hard to be an HVAC technician?

In actual fact, it is hard to be an HVAC technician. It is tough because it requires a lot of hard work and practice to become stable in the profession. But if you are a dedicated technician and have a passion for the profession, then it would not be that hard.

So, what you have to understand is that it totally depends on your dedication and commitment. If you work hard during your training process about which we will be discussing in the next sections of the article, it would not be hard. HVAC is a profession that has a lot to do with mastering certain techniques. So, you have to put your heart and soul into it and make your skills perfect and reliable. Then, it would be easy to stabilize yourself as a professional in the field of HVAC.

But anyway, HVAC work is of course a little hard. In fact, you may have to work at heights and underground chambers as well. Fixing the heating and cooling systems may require a lot of work. Hence, the work that you have to do as an HVAC technician is not easy as well.

And the quality of your work also matters. So, you may have to put some extra effort to finish off a particular task in good quality.

But before all that, you need to be an HVAC technician first. Do not worry. You will get to know all about the right procedure in this article.

Fundamentals of HVAC/R 1st Edition

The authors of this book are Carter Stanfield and David Skaves. This book is thorough coverage of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. (HVACR) Fundamental principles, contemporary developments, and practical applications in the area are all covered in this reader-friendly book. This book offers everything a technician needs to know about installing, servicing, and maintaining HVAC systems, using clear language, well-presented principles, carefully selected artwork, and just the perfect amount of information. 

Audel HVAC Pocket Reference

James E. Brumbaugh is the author of this book. This book is ideal for HVAC technicians as a pocket reference book. All the things that you would need on the spot while you are working in the field are in this book. And we think that this would be so helpful to you. From conversion tables, standards, comparisons, product specifications to troubleshooting guidelines, this book consists of everything that you would need for your job. 

How much do HVAC technicians make a year?

Well, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage of an HVAC technician was $48730 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent of the employees have earned less than $30610 whereas the highest 10 percent of the employees have earned more than $77920.

And as HVAC is a profession that is in demand, we can expect these figures to rise. So, in the future, there will be much higher pay for sure.

Anyway, HVAC technicians would make such an amount of money only if they engage in the profession full time. Of course, you would have to, if HVAC is the profession that you are going to master.

When it comes to apprentices, they usually earn half of the salary that is earned by a technician. However, our piece of advice is that you must not stop being an HVAC technician. You must start your own trade and grow. Then you can go to much higher incomes.

Nevertheless, the annual wage might differ from country to country and state to state. In general, what we have to say is that HVAC technicians do earn a pretty good amount of money. If your concern is about the money that you can earn, you do not have to worry about that. You can get a good income if you engage in this profession.

HVAC Flat Rate Pricing Book

Is HVAC dangerous?

Prior to moving onto the steps to be an HVAC technician, we thought of answering all other questions you might have related to this. Every profession has certain dangers and so does the profession of an HVAC technician. It is dangerous up to a certain extent. But if you take the right safety precautions, you can avoid the possible dangers.

Of course, HVAC technicians would have to work in high places. They have to work on ladders or rooftops. Hence, falling to the ground is one prominent way of getting injured while engaged in the profession. Yet, this risk is common to a lot of professions.

And you may have to be exposed to unfavorable weather conditions also. The irony is that although HVAC technicians are for setting up climate-control systems, they may have to experience unfavorable climate conditions while working.

Above everything, the most prominent danger is exposure to chemicals that are harmful to humans. HVAC technicians can possibly be exposed to harmful compounds such as carbon monoxide.

Also, the other dangerous aspect is the possibility of electrocution. But if you use tools that have proper insulation, you would not have to worry about that at all.

These are the dangers that we can discuss in relation to the profession of an HVAC technician. But anyway, as almost all the professions have such dangers, being afraid of these is useless. Follow safety precautions. And that is it.

Is HVAC a stressful job?

Unfortunately, HVAC is a stressful job. You may have to go on doing the same things for your entire career. But cheer up! That is how things are when you are employed. Understand the reality of how things happen in the world.

An HVAC technician may have to work in tight or dark places sometimes. And the climate conditions can be unfavorable. Also, you may have to stick to a tight schedule. Making your supervisors and clients happy is another challenge. Perhaps, you may get calls for some work any time of the day.

However, you will take control of all of these factors over time. So, you do not have to worry about these very much. This is a satisfactory profession without any doubt.

Now, we will tell you how to be an HVAC technician. Meanwhile, you will understand how interesting it is to be one.

Steps to be an HVAC Technician

Yes, step by step, we will tell you how to be an HVAC technician. And again, keep in mind that dedication and hard work are very important if your goal is to be an HVAC technician. So, what are the steps?

1. Get a high school degree or equivalent
2. Complete a training program
3. Pursue an apprenticeship
4. Get licensed
5. Work and get experience
6. Start your own HVAC firm and grow as a business owner

No doubt, you must be very interested to know about all these in detail. That is what we are going to do next. Keep reading! We have a lot of things to tell you.

1. Get a high school degree or an equivalent

In your pathway toward becoming an HVAC technician, you must definitely have a high school degree or an equivalent. As you know, HVAC is a field that is solely related to techniques. So, there are specific skills that you must develop when you are pursuing your high school degree.

Mainly, you must have basic knowledge of physics and maths. It is because this field requires certain mathematical skills. We do not say that you have math knowledge like a math prodigy. But knowing the basic stuff of mathematics is pretty important for fieldwork like this.

Basically, you can complete a degree program in your field like plumbing, basic electronics, or electrical work. Those are the major skills that you require if you want to be an HVAC technician. There are many occasions that HVAC technicians have to work with pipes. It is because they have to plan out the laying of the electricity supply through a specific wiring system.

Further, you must possess electrician skills as well. It is most important to have electrician knowledge as almost all the cooling or heating systems deal with electricity invariably.

And it is important to engage in your studies with much dedication. These fields are very competitive. So, if you need to excel in these types of fields, you have to work hard. Okay, what should you do next?

2. Complete a training program

In the procedure of becoming an HVAC technician, you must next complete a training program. A program in HVAC would provide you with all the knowledge that you need to possess in order to become an HVAC technician and some practical training as well.

The most important part of such a program is to master the skills that are specifically useful for HVAC. Of course, HVAC is a spectacular profession and has lots of things to learn specifically about it. So, you indeed have to focus on the things that you learn in the program.

And remember, both practical knowledge, as well as theoretical proficiency, is important to engage in the profession of HVAC. Thus, you need to pay attention to both of them.

As a matter of fact, you would not be able to work industrially while you are completing the program. But you would be able to gain industrial experience when you are completing an apprenticeship program.

Most of the time, you would be able to complete an HVAC program in about 10 months. But if you aim to complete an associate degree as well, it might take around a couple of years.

3. Pursue an apprenticeship

The next important step in the journey to becoming an HVAC technician is pursuing an apprenticeship. First, let us understand what sort of a thing an apprenticeship program is.

An apprenticeship program is something in which you have to learn while working. You have a senior supervisor and you are employed in the field. But you cannot do HVAC work alone. Always, you need to have a supervisor to supervise you. That is how it happens. And you can engage in fieldwork. You will get a wage for that as well. But as we discussed earlier, you would not be getting paid as an employee would.

Although you have already completed a training program, you would still make certain mistakes when you are engaging in fieldwork. This is the time to correct your errors. Your supervisor would tell you where you go wrong and inform you about the mistakes you make. Thus, you can correct them through an apprenticeship program.

Also, you would get to know the trends of the industry. You would get to know about certain industrial tactics. And you will understand to carry out a task to a required level as you will get the opportunity to carry out certain tasks on your own under the supervision of your supervisor.

Here, you would master the knowledge of performing the basic tasks. You will master how to read blueprints and use basic hand tools. And you will learn all the necessary safety measures as well.

Usually, unions and contractor associations offer apprenticeship programs. You can apply to a program through them. And an apprenticeship program would take about 3 to 5 years.

4. Get licensed

Getting licensed is the next step. But this procedure can be slightly different from state to state depending on their policies and regulations.

Specifically, to work with refrigerants, you must hold a certification from the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. That is really important to stabilize in your field. However, unions, trade schools, and employer associations offer programs that focus on applying for the EPA certification. So, you can get the training to apply for the certification exam.

Although the required certifications slightly vary from state to state, there is one in common. It is that you must have the section 608 technician certification. Mainly, there are three levels in this 608 technician certification. In order to receive the certification, applicants must pass all three levels. The type 1 certification covers the knowledge of small appliances. The type 2 certification covers high-pressure heating and cooling units. And the type 3 certification covers low-pressure heating and cooling units. If you pass these exams, then you are a certified HVAC technician. You can thereafter work as one. During the phase of apprenticeship, you cannot work on your own. But now, you are totally independent. You can make money on your own.

However, there are still more certifications that you can get if you wish. Having further certifications is not mandatory. But it might help you to distinguish yourself from other HVAC technicians. After all, it is your choice.

HVAC Licensing Study Guide, Third Edition 3rd Edition

Getting licensed is not an easy thing. You need to get ready for it. And you need to get to know the things that you have to. In this regard, we strongly think that this book would be an ideal choice for you. This study guide can surely guide you through the journey of excelling in the tests to get the necessary licenses. 

5. Work and get experience

Now, you are an HVAC technician. You can work and earn. Meanwhile, try to be perfect in the field. Get work experience. Afterward, you can start your own business. But first, you must get work experience and develop professional skills.

You can work for a company. For that, craft a strong resume. It is important to earn some recognition for you. As you do not have previous work experience as you are starting anew, you can develop a functional resume that primarily focuses on your HVAC and personal skills. Your technical knowledge, as well as soft skills, are equally important when you are applying to work in the field. And without question, the completion of an apprentice program is of course qualification for you.

Anyway, get work experience. That is pretty important to grow as a professional.

HVAC Systems Design Handbook, Fifth Edition 5th Edition

6. Start your own HVAC firm and grow as a business owner

It is up to you whether you are going to start a business on your own or not. If you wish to continue as an employee, yes, you may. That is totally fine. But there are more paths that you can follow to develop yourself further. You can start your own HVAC firm and grow as a professional.

What matters most if you need to become a business owner is not technical proficiency. You need to have management skills and entrepreneurship skills. But you would not have to learn them separately. You can develop your skills while you are employed.

As an employee, you would get a fixed salary. But if you start your own HVAC firm, you can possibly earn more money without any restriction. That way, you can even make millions. It depends on how well you develop and manage your business.

What Qualities do you need to be an HVAC technician?

Well, now we are going to consider the qualities that you would need to be an HVAC technician. The U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists out a set of qualities that an individual must have to be an HVAC technician.

1. Customer-Service Skills
2. Detail-oriented
3. Math Skills
4. Mechanical Skills
5. Physical Stamina
6. Physical Strength
7. Time Management Skills
8. Troubleshooting Skills

And we thought of discussing these qualities in detail. They are as important as your professional knowledge and skills.

1. Customer-Service Skills

As HVAC technicians, you may have to deal with customers a lot. This is mostly valid for the HVAC technicians who work in homes domestically. Also, you may need to have these skills if you are working in business offices.

Interacting with people is far more difficult than dealing with machines. Machines do not have feelings. But humans do. So, everybody needs to understand that, especially when someone is working for someone. You are working for your clients as HVAC technicians. And you need to impress them. That is why customer service skills are important.

Firstly, you need to be punctual. Punctuality really matters when you are working for someone. If you have a fixed time, you need to be there right in time. That is vital.

Also, you need to be polite and friendly. You need to have courtesy when you are dealing with your customers. Then they will be happy. A happy customer must be your soul wish. And being friendly and polite is one way of winning the customers.

Your customers may be contacting an HVAC technician because they have an issue with their cooling or heating systems. At that moment, they must be in a real unhappy mood. You must understand that. And you must act accordingly. That is also one way of becoming a successful professional.

HVAC Customer Service Handbook – 4th Edition Spiral-bound – May 1, 2015

This book is used by thousands of plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning experts. While HVAC professionals cannot control everything, they can manage a variety of behavioral elements such as attitude, listening, empathy, and collaboration. The flowcharts in this book provide a step-by-step way to resolving problems quickly and professionally. This book is simple to read, well-illustrated, and written by a professional in the field. This book is used in the soft skills and workforce development curriculum at over 140 colleges.

Customer Service Skills for Success – Standalone Book 6th Edition

Customer service skills are pretty important for any professional. And this book gives you a broad idea about how customer service skills are important. Robert Lucas is its author. We suggest you read this book. You will be able to get a good idea about how you should develop your customer service skills as an HVAC technician. The readers of this book have dropped favorable reviews and ratings on Amazon as well.

2. Detail-oriented

As HVAC technicians, you must be detail-oriented. You must pay special attention to details. That means you have to maintain records of all the work that you perform.

To be specific, it is important to record details such as the tools and equipment that you used, the time you took for the particular job, and the nature of the work that you performed.

3. Math Skills

Previously also we told you about this. Having math skills is very important for many professionals including HVAC technicians. But it is the basic concepts of mathematics that you need to have.

Yes, why does an HVAC technician need math skills? Well, you would have to calculate the correct load requirements when installing HVAC systems. If not, you would not be able to install a system that heats or cools a particular area in an effective manner.

Further, you must also have math skills to calculate how much materials you would need for a particular project or things like that.

HVAC Equations, Data, and Rules of Thumb, Third Edition 3rd Edition

The authors of this book are Arthur Bell and W. Larsen Angel. And this consists of mathematical equations that you need to know as a professional HVAC technician. There is no reason to know everything in mathematics. It is quite sufficient to know the things that are necessary. That is why this book becomes so invaluable for an HVAC technician to refer to.

4. Mechanical Skills

Of course, having mechanical skills is a must. You need to do a lot of mechanical work for sure. If you do not have the necessary skills to handle such mechanical work, you would not be able to carry out HVAC work.

HVAC technicians surely do have to install and work on complex HVAC systems. You must have the proficient skills to assemble or disassemble them as well. If there is any need to program them, you should be able to do that as well.

DEWALT HVAC Code Reference: Based on the 2015 International Mechanical Code, Spiral bound Version (DEWALT Series) 2nd Edition

The International Mechanical Code has served as the foundation for the DEWALT HVAC Code Reference, which provides readers with the information and skills they need to effectively install or repair HVAC equipment. This book covers everything from materials and duct construction to chimneys, vents, grease duct systems, and more, with 75 pages of illustrated code requirements, infractions, and installation issues. This book is a must-have for anybody working with HVAC equipment. This comes with comprehensive, full-color graphics to help readers grasp and apply important ideas.

5. Physical Stamina

Just like for all other fieldwork, you need to have physical stamina if you choose to engage in this profession. Of course, you may have to spend hours and hours performing HVAC tasks. Perhaps, you may have to keep standing for a long time. Maybe you would have to repeat the same action continuously. Hence, you should definitely have physical stamina.

Stamina 38-Inch Intone Plus Rebounder

This is a fun way to increase your cardiovascular fitness, tone your legs, belly, buttocks, and back, increase your energy, boost your metabolism, and simply feel, look, and be fit. It has a larger rebounding surface, which gives more stability and workout options. The resistance tubes allow you to focus on arm, shoulder, back, and chest strength development. The blue barrier improves safety by keeping you within the mat’s “sweet spot.” The rebounder takes up very little space when not in use and is easy to store out of the way. As a result, we believe that this is an excellent approach to increase your physical stamina.

6. Physical Strength

And physical strength is another important factor. You may indeed have to lift heavy equipment. So, you must have physical strength. If not, you would not be able to engage in the profession.

Starting Strength: Basic Barbell Training, 3rd edition 3rd Edition

Mark Rippletoe is the author of this book. And Jason Kelly is the illustrator of this book. If you need to improve your physical strength, the best possible method is strength training. With barbells, this takes you through an effective training program. With logical explanations, illustrations, and methods, this comes with easy-to-follow instructions. If you dedicate yourself to work in accordance with the strength training process this book explains, you can surely improve your physical strength. There is no doubt about that.

7. Time Management Skills

HVAC technicians must have time-management skills. We told you that you must be punctual. To be so, you need to manage your time invariably.

The best way to manage your time is to schedule your daily maintenance calls and tasks. Failing to plan is planning to fail. So, make it a point to plan everything out. Then, time management would not be a serious problem for you.

So, plan things out in a way that you can complete each and every task. This is very important.

Strategies and Tips for Time Management: Secrets to Organizing Yourself and Ending Procrastination (Focus, Motivation, Organization, Goal Setting, Productivity, and Success Organizing Your Home) Paperback – August 9, 2019

Jack Barrett is the author of this book. In the current world, many people are leading hectic lifestyles due to the fact that they have a lot on their plate to do. And of course, this issue is there even for HVAC technicians. But if you manage your time properly, your life would not be hectic. In this regard, we think that this book would be a great read. The readers of this book have also commended it on Amazon.

8. Troubleshooting Skills

Repairing and maintaining HVAC systems basically require troubleshooting skills. You have to identify the problem and sort out a suitable way to repair them. That is why you should have troubleshooting skills.

Of course, there might be a lot of malfunctions in the heating or air conditioning systems. And it is up to you to troubleshoot. So naturally, you must definitely have troubleshooting skills.

Similar Professions

If you are interested in this profession, you can also consider some similar professions. Then you can decide what you must be. And you can consider professions like plumbing, carpentry, and electrical work.

Conclusion

Up to now, we have been answering your important question ‘how to be an HVAC technician?’ And we hope that you got to know a great deal about it. All we have to tell you now is to follow the steps that we told you. If you do so, you can easily become an HVAC technician. But do not take this for granted. You are going to create your future. And you have to do it in a righteous and productive way. Finally, we wish you all the very best of luck in all your endeavors.

HVAC Level 2 5th Edition

This training handbook includes a well-illustrated layout, technical suggestions and recommendations from industry professionals, review questions, and much more! Alternating current, compressors, refrigerants, and oils, leak detection, evacuation, and charging, metering devices, heat pumps, basic maintenance, chimneys, vents, and flues, sheet metal duct systems, fiberglass and fabric duct systems, commercial airside systems, air quality equipment, and introduction to hydronic systems are among the topics covered in this book.

Audel HVAC Fundamentals, Volume 1: Heating Systems, Furnaces and Boilers 4th Edition

This book covers everything from the history and fundamentals of heating systems to the most cutting-edge chip-based technologies. You will discover everything you need, from wood and coal furnace maintenance to new calculations and the newest environmental technologies and laws, whether you are installing, maintaining, repairing, or troubleshooting an old or new heating system. That is why we thought of recommending this book to you.

Build and Grow Your HVAC Business: How I Turned $274 into a Multi-Million Dollar Company Paperback – November 5, 2019

Greg McAfee is the author of this book. As we told you in this article, your life story does not end once you become a professional HVAC technician. You can start up your own business and indulge in business work. And this is the perfect book for you to refer to. This book guides you to take your business to the next level. And of course, we think that this is a must-read for you. You can develop your business acumen in terms of HVAC businesses if you go through this book.